Sunflower deadline
The Deadline for the Tallest Sunflower contest is closing in! Submissions, including a photo and measurement, are due by email to news@soprissun.com by the end of the day on Aug. 31.
ASC internship
The Aspen Science Center is offering the second year of its Community STEM Leaders Internship program, a paid opportunity offered to 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Running from October 2026 to May 2027, the interns will design and lead community STEM programs, build connections with other teens interested in STEM and dive into their own relevant interests. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/moreinformationSTEM
Eagle County land use
Eagle County is requesting public comment on its Land Use Regulation Rewrite Project, which “overhauls the regulatory framework guiding local development, environmental protection and housing,” according to a press release. Comments are due by Sept. 1. The Eagle Board of County Commissioners has an adoption hearing for the project scheduled on Nov. 3. Find details of the regulation rewrite at tinyurl.com/regulationrewrite Submit public feedback regarding the project online at tinyurl.com/eaglecountylanduseregulations or by sending comments to ECLURproject@eaglecounty.us
Kittle Fire
The White River National Forest announced Monday, Aug. 24, that the 28.7-acre Kittle Fire burning southwest of Ruedi Reservoir is 100% contained. “Firefighters will continue to monitor the fire for the next several days,” the Monday press release read. The Forest Service reminded residents and recreators that White River National Forest Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in place, prohibiting fires, even in developed campgrounds. Human-caused wildfires would pull resources away from the efforts firefighters are continuing to put toward lighting-ignited blazes, the Forest Service said. Firefighters also achieved 100% containment of the six-acre Elk Knob Fire in the Flat Tops Wilderness on Friday, Aug. 21.
Roan Plateau
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is considering a December 2026 oil and gas lease sale of the Roan Plateau, land located just northwest of Rifle, which follows the federal government’s “Unleashing American Energy” agenda. BLM released a draft environmental assessment, and is accepting public comment until 4pm, Sept. 11. For more information about the draft and to provide public comment, visit tinyurl.com/publiccommentroan
CPW meeting change
Those weighing in during the general public comment portion of Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meetings can expect procedural changes next month. The first-come, first-served sign-up routine that has prioritized in-person attendees is a thing of the past. All commenters will now be selected at random with two-thirds from the in-person bunch and one-third from those online. Public officials will no longer have more time to speak than others nor will they automatically go to the head of the line. The general public comment period will close for everyone at one hour. These changes take effect at the Sept. 2-3 meeting in La Junta. Meeting materials, including the agenda, are available at tinyurl.com/cpwpubliccommentchange
Gov. Polis request
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Sunday, Aug. 23, requested President Donald Trump support the state’s efforts to recover from flooding and debris flows resulting from the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires. The $18 million funding would support “impacted families and homeowners, local governments, essential public services and long-term mitigation efforts as recovery continues in Pueblo, Custer and Ouray counties,” a state press release reads. The ten members of Colorado’s congressional delegation doubled down on the request on Monday, Aug. 24, requesting the president expedite the review.
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Mason Frisbie, Joanne Howard, Jeremy Morris and Tommy Sands (Aug. 27); JoEllen Maynard (Aug. 28); Reina Katzenberger and Tyler Treadway (Aug. 29); Christina Cappelli, Lauren DeAre, Caito Foster, Elizabeth Henry, Lynn Kirchner, Emma Martin and Barbara New (Aug. 30); Sean Jeung and Chloe Shirley (Aug. 31); Veronica Smith and Ella Yeats (Sept. 1); Lori Haroutunian and Dean Perkins (Sept. 2).